Support for Windows 7 will end on January 14, 2020, which means that Microsoft will no longer provide security updates for Windows 7 after that date. operating system.
Now corporate users will be able to extend the support period by 3 years, that is, until January 2023.
This offer will be available on a paid basis to all customers “with Volume Licensing of Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise”, and “Microsoft Software Assurance members and owners Windows licenses 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education" will be able to receive a discount on extended support, which will be sold separately for each device.
Spartaro notes that Office 365 ProPlus will be supported on Windows devices 7 with extended support - Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU).
Home users will not be able to take advantage of this offer.
The second change affects users of Windows 10 Enterprise and Education editions. Microsoft plans to extend support for these versions of Windows to 30 months in some circumstances. Enterprise and Education are currently supported for 18 months, with the exception of the LTSB (Long Term Servicing Branch) versions.
The most important changes:
- Windows 10 Enterprise and Education releases will be supported for 30 months if the target release is the second major update Windows functions 10 per year (period September-October).
- All supported on this moment Enterprise and Education versions will receive extended support for a total duration of 30 months from the date of initial release.
- March releases will only be supported for 18 months.
- Versions of Windows 10 other than Enterprise and Education will be supported for 18 months from the date of release, regardless of when the update is released (in March or September).
Microsoft believes that these changes will provide organizations with educational institutions“more time and flexibility in the cycle Windows updates 10".
Note that Windows 7 still remains a popular operating system for PCs and, given the past experience of Windows XP, it can be assumed that the end of OS support will not lead to a total migration to supported systems. In this case, extended support will truly be more relevant than ever.
However, extended support is available for a fee and is only available to Enterprise and Education users. Small businesses and home users will not be able to use this option.
Extended support for Windows 10 September feature updates is a welcome change for system administrators, because it gives them “time to breathe.” Again, this change only affects Enterprise and Education users.
Support for Windows 10 is provided different ways– official and unofficial. The first is available only to those who have purchased a license, the second to everyone, and we will tell you in more detail about all the methods.
Before the release of the “ten” in previous versions of the OS, users were forced to independently search for contact information for help desks from developers. But with the advent new system This issue turned out to be much easier to solve, since Windows support 10 was implemented as a separate application. It has the appropriate name, so you can definitely find it using the system itself. Moreover, this can be done not only in regular versions of the OS, but even in mobile ones. The search order in both cases looks the same, so that the user, having done this procedure once, will definitely find it the second time without any problems.
Windows 10 support and its features
If your question concerned whether your computer supports the new operating system, then we will answer right now. If you have 2 nuclear processor and there is at least 2 GB random access memory, then in 99% of cases everything will be fine and your computer will actually accept the new operating system. This was a short reference, with detailed system requirements you can get acquainted via this link.In this version of the OS there are only three major areas that are available to users. This:
- Accounts and accounts;
- Applications and other system services;
- Devices.
The implementation of help resembles the directory structure of some file manager. By selecting, for example, the help menu for working with services and applications, you are taken to another submenu where there are items:
- Explorer and Edge;
- The system itself;
- OneDrive service;
- Xbox;
- Help on other less popular sections.
How to get help and support for Windows 10
After the user selects the exact topic of the questions, options for contacting specialists will become available to him. These could be:- Using chat;
- Request an urgent call;
- Request a call from a specialist at a convenient time;
- View solutions to the problem on the forum.
Alternative options
As you understand, official support is available only to those people who have purchased a license. If you have a hacked version, then you only have an alternative option. It consists in the fact that you can contact specialized forums, specialized websites, or, for example, contact us. In this case, you will receive help unofficially, but sometimes it differs for the better in quality and content from the official one.For example, our instructions for that, or about all, receive only good feedback.
All this means that absolutely all users on Windows 10 can receive support. We hope that you will not find yourself in a situation where you need help, but now you know where to get it and how to do it as simply and quickly as possible.
As for help in Russian, it is available both by the main, that is, official, method, and by unofficial. After all, Windows 10 is available in many languages, including Russian, which means that users also need help in this language. Good that Microsoft company has thought about all users and provides opportunities for everyone.
- Useful programs for Windows 10
Using previous versions of the OS (up to the Windows 10 platform), in order to receive technical support, users were forced to search on the Internet phone numbers, forms or resources. It’s worth noting right away that now in Windows 10, getting technical help has become much easier.
In order to receive technical support as quickly as possible, in Windows 10 the developers included an application with the eloquent name “Contact service technical support" In addition, finding the application is not difficult, since it is located in the “Start” menu, then “All applications”, moreover, you can always use the search (as indicated in the screenshot below - just type the word " support" or the beginning of this word). This tool can be used in both the mobile and desktop versions of the platform. Moreover, the search algorithm in different versions remains virtually unchanged, even the program interface in different versions generally does not change.
It is worth noting that technical support mainly covers two main aspects: “Accounts and billing” - in in this case, these are purchases, payments or subscriptions. As for the second aspect or direction, this is “Services and Applications”, in this case the help is related to what concerns the platform itself, as well as games, applications and other things. In addition, on mobile devices there is another help area called “My Device”. Help applies to warranties, repairs, and other issues related to smartphones.
After the user has decided on the direction that suits his problem, he should narrow the search by clarifying his request. For example, the program with which misunderstandings arose should be selected, followed by an indication of the specific issue. This may relate to installation, configuration, activation or other problems that affect the correct operation.
After the question or problem is clarified, you need to choose how exactly to transfer it to the support service. Communication can be realized through text chat or a call back to the user's phone. Note that the call can be scheduled at a time that is convenient for the user. Meanwhile, you can go to the Microsoft forum directly from the application and describe your problem directly there.
Another convenient point that is worth paying attention to is the ability to chat without going into the browser. The developers encourage users to evaluate the support provided by leaving their feedback.
In some cases, in order to quickly and effectively resolve the problem, the service agent will need to provide access to the screen of your PC, which can also be done directly from the application. As for mobile devices, this function is not provided for them. As a matter of fact, in order to provide access to their screen, in a special field, going to the “Show to agent” section, the user must enter the code numbers.
In conclusion, we note that regarding some issues, for example, this concerns Xbox, support is not implemented with this application. To solve the problem, the user must go to the required service page.
IN previous versions operating system to purchase technical support Windows users I had to go to the global network, look for some phone numbers, websites and forums. In Windows 10, it is easier to get help; how to do this will be discussed further.
For simple and quick acquisition of technical support, an application with the self-explanatory name “Contact Technical Support” is included, which is not difficult to find in the menu Start → All apps, or using the search. This tool is available in both desktop and mobile version operating system. The procedure in both cases is the same; there is also virtually no difference in the application interface.
Help can be provided in two main areas: “Accounts and Billing” (everything related to subscriptions, purchases and payments) and “Services and Applications” (everything related to Windows itself, applications and games). On phones, these two are joined by another support option: “My Device” (guarantee, repair, other problems with the device)
Having preferred the desired direction, you should clarify your request step by step. For example, to prefer a program for which there are questions for support, and then indicate more specifically what problems arose: errors or problems with productivity interfere with the installation, configuration and activation or use of the program.
Having clarified the request, all that remains is to choose the most comfortable method of contacting the support service: this can be a text chat or a callback to your phone number. The loud time is allowed if desired and set at a time that is more comfortable for you. Alternatively, directly from the application you can go to the Microsoft global community forum and ask a question there.
It's fascinating that communication in text chat done directly from the application, no need to go to the website in the browser. At the end of the conversation, do not forget to rate the support provided and, if desired, leave feedback.
To solve some problems, you may need to give a support agent access to your computer screen (this feature is not available on phones), but you can also do this directly from the application. Simply enter the six digits of the code in the appropriate field in the “Show screen to agent” section and go to the one that is allowed from the main page of the application (the button with the ≡ symbol).
We would like to add that for some issues, say regarding Xbox, help is not provided through this application, but the user is directed to the appropriate service page.